End-of-Year Thoughts

At this time of the year, you should be thinking about what you have done this past year and what you are planning to do in the coming year. You must think about what you have done right and what you have done wrong. Did you play in the tournaments that you planned to play in? Did you place in the money in these tournaments as often as you expected? Did you read the poker books that you planned to read? Did you read Card Player religiously? Did you utilize proper strategy in tournaments at all times, or did you go on tilt and blow off your chips? Did you play your best game at all times in live play, or did you go on tilt and lose a load of cash?

These are important questions that you must answer honestly. If you cannot be honest and true to yourself, you cannot be honest and true to anyone. If you met some of your goals for the year, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. After receiving this pat on the back, think about the goals you did not meet, and all the leaks you have in your game. Write down everything you think you did right this past year. Then, write down everything you did wrong. Which list do you think will be longer?

You must concentrate on improving your poker game in all areas, tournaments and live play. If you have honestly listed your weaknesses, you can make an honest effort to correct them. If you cannot recognize your weaknesses, you have a real problem. Start with each shortcoming and make a list of what you plan to do in the coming year to improve upon it. Write down your plans and goals for improving yourself in each of your particular areas of weakness, and when you plan to meet these goals. Your plans and goals should definitely include reading two or three new poker books, and, of course, Card Player. During the coming year, you must look at your written goals at least once every month and see how you are progressing. If you are getting off course, you must correct things and get back with the program. All of this should help you to become a better poker player in tournaments and live play.

In a recent column I did an interview with A.J. Brock, a tournament-playing poker dealer who works at Bellagio in Las Vegas. In that column I wrote about how Brock pulled off a minor miracle by finishing second in a Friday night no-limit hold'em tournament at Bellagio to win $7,500, considering that it was only his second no-limit hold'em tournament. Well, Brock performed another minor miracle recently, and I was a witness to it. He won another satellite for this tournament with literally a chip and a chair. The satellite was down to Brock and one other player. The other player had $10,000 in chips and Brock had one $500 chip. The blinds were $300-$600, and they were playing no-limit hold'em. Brock's chances were slim to none. He was outchipped 20-to-1. I watched as he picked up a few chips here and a few chips there, and after about 30 minutes, he finally had a slight chip lead. The blinds were $500-$1,000, and Brock was in the big blind. The other player just called, and the flop came 9-3-2 with two clubs. Brock checked and the other player went all in on a pure bluff with Q-5 offsuit. Brock called with the 5 4, so he had a straight draw and a flush draw. The turn brought a club, and Brock won the satellite. Way to go, A.J.!

Brock and his wife, Holly, experienced a major miracle in their lives recently. Their first child was born on Nov. 4. His name is Taylor Robert. Congratulations to the new parents. Good luck in 2003!